Famously, “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”. And because dogs may live for 10 to 15 years, that’s quite a responsibility of supervision. Cats can live for 15 to 20 years, or sometimes even more, although they can be somewhat independent occupiers of a neighbourhood. Another neighbourhood occupant, the vet, is conveniently placed and well qualified to help in both cases. And despite additional and widely available specialist help, such as ad hoc walkers, house-sitters, boarders and behaviourists, dog, cat or any other pet ownership cannot, or at least should not, be taken lightly.
Pets at Christmas
Christmas can be a difficult time for some people with isolated or lonely lives, so “gifting” them a companion animal may make sense. Research shows, and through experience we often know, that being around animals can provide people with comfort, although grief from the loss of a companion animal can also be very troubling (Pierce, 2013). But introducing an animal that needs a home to a person ready to provide one is a long way from giving yourself a curiosity for novelty’s sake, or – worse – surprising someone else with one.
Introducing an animal that needs a home to a person ready to provide one is a long way from giving yourself a curiosity for novelty’s sake, or – worse – surprising someone else with one
Each year, welfare groups, the media and even some animal traders issue welcome cautions against the impulse buying of pets as Christmas presents (AWF, 2017; EMoDE, 2019; PETA (n.d.); Reasehealth, 2017). Yet many pet sellers regularly continue to cash in on the fluctuating demand (Pet, 2020).
Unwanted, but when and why?
According to data from the RSPCA, over 21,000 cats, 7,800 dogs and 2,800 rabbits were taken in during 2022 (RSPCA, 2022). Exotics are now also widely acknowledged victims of bad decision making, and in 2020, over 6,000 incidents and nearly 22,000 exotic animals were reported to the RSPCA.
However, the view that a possible Christmas rush on pet buying will directly lead to unwanted animals and abandonments soon after is difficult to clarify on paper. Most animals arrive at rescue centres or homing facilities during the spring and summer period when people take holidays, and then the trend drops off by about December. Therefore, it is hard to assume the extent to which Christmas present purchases fall foul of any lag phase from novelty wear-off and then become unwanted or unmanageable in that time.
Also, the reasons for such rescue surges may have something to do with increased public activity during the summer months resulting in a greater number of interactions and complaints of possible animal abuse. Reasons for unwanted animals and their hand-ins may have wider causes such as impulse purchases throughout the year, misleading promotional information from vested-interest sellers regarding the suitability of species or breeds, and rising economic challenges generally.
Decisions, decisions
For many, and hopefully most, individuals, the decision to take on any animal at any time would result from deep consideration about not only whether one really wants this or that animal and can handle and afford the responsibilities, but also – and more importantly – whether a good life can be provided.
Few keepers of exotics will recognise the irony of knowing that dogs and cats require their freedoms while they ignore the arguably stronger biological needs among wild animals for extensive spatial, habitat, and behavioural diversity and expression
It is probably fair to say that for dogs and cats, just such a life can be, and frequently is, on offer, and a cross-species family is formed. But where exotics are concerned, any such family becomes grotesquely dysfunctional because, typically, animals will not actually share a home and be able to express diverse normal behaviour, go on long walks or scope the neighbourhood nocturnally. Instead, their lives will characteristically be spent incarcerated in diminutive glass, plastic or wire enclosures, isolated from expert knowledge and care, and manifesting a myriad of stress-related psychological and behavioural problems that will likely go unnoticed by their captors. Few keepers of exotics will recognise the irony of knowing that dogs and cats require their freedoms while they ignore the arguably stronger biological needs among wild animals for extensive spatial, habitat, and behavioural diversity and expression.
Given the major problematic issues associated with keeping exotic pets and the resultant stress-related conditions, it is unsurprising that mortality rates are high. For example, 75 percent of reptiles, 75 to 90 percent of birds and over 90 percent of ornamental fishes die in one year between trade and the home. Thus, whereas dogs and cats frequently attain natural life expectancy, exotic pets do not. Even sadder is that many exotic – wild – species have potentially very long lifespans: pythons live for 20 to 30 years, parrots 40 to 60 years and tortoises 80 to 100-plus years, to name a few. That’s a lot of Christmases to get through! So, while keeping a dog is for the duration of its life, keeping a tortoise is for your life and beyond.
A message worth repeating?
Obviously, it is right to repeat the message that animals should not be viewed as Christmas gifts for the sake of it. Clearly, dogs and cats – however acquired – can experience good lives with good people. But if someone truly feels capable of giving animals a good life, especially exotic long-lived animals, then for many the next question must be: “To whom might I bequeath my friend?” However, peculiarly, while people can seemingly commit to preparing for and celebrating the Christmas story itself, not all offer a serious commitment to the lives of animals handed over – or effectively sacrificed – in its cause.
If someone truly feels capable of giving animals a good life, especially exotic long-lived animals, then for many the next question must be: ‘To whom might I bequeath my friend?’
